Bar support for concrete construction



Feb. 20, 1934. B||KLAND 1,947,445

BAR SUPPORT FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION- Original Filed July 29, 1931 Patented Feb. 20, 1934 BAR SUPPORT FOR CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION I George Birkland, St. Louis, Mo.

Application July 29, 1931. Serial No. 553,748 Renewed July 10, 1933 4 Claims.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bar supports for concrete construction, the peculiarities of which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

The main objects of my invention are first, to provide a cheap and eflicient bar support; second, to provide rigid prongs for carrying the longitudinal supporting member; third, to provide a reversible support that carries the reinforcing bar at substantially the same height in any reversed position of the support; and other points hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts,

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of my bar support with prongs uniformly spaced thereon;

Fig. 2, an end view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, a similar view to Fig. degrees;

Fig. 4, a similar view to Fig. 2 with the bar reversed approximately 90 degrees;

Fig. 5, a plan view of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6, a similar plan view with the prongs variably spaced thereon.

Various bar supports have been used for supporting reinforcing rods in concrete construction for slabs, beams, etc., by which the reinforcing bars are supported the desired distance from the .4 reversed 180 surface of the forms to provide the required tensile strength in the poured concrete construction. Such bar supports are necessarily placed with the prongs below the longitudinal member extending downward with curved or horizontally widened feet to contact with the form and assume a single proper position for supporting the longitudinal member of the support. When such supports are tipped over or reversed by accident, they will not support the reinforcing bars at the desired distance.

My bar support provides a longitudinal member with prongs that are rigid, substantially straight, and welded or otherwise secured near their middle to the longitudinal member, and diverging from each other so that when tipped over or reversed the longitudinal bar is still car- 'ried at substantially the same height in any position of my bar support.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates a longitudinal rod of round or other section, on which rests the reinforcing bars which are carried at the desired height by prongs 2--2'. These prongs are substantially straight and uniform in length. They are welded or otherwise secured firmly to the longitudinal bar at or near their middle so that the prongs-extend. in two directions from the longitudinal rod 1,and at uniform or other distance along its length. These prongs are preferably alternately diverging from each other in their fixed position upon rod 1. As shown in Figs. 1-4, these prongs are at substantially right angles to each other alternately. This substantially right angle placement of the prongs and the transverse relation to the longitudinal rod, and their location in two longitudinal interseoting planes, bring their outer ends so they are disposed in four lines parallel to the longitudinal member. By this construction, the bar support may be reversed 180 degrees as shown in Fig. 3, or substantially degrees as shown in Fig. 4, and the distance A from the lower ends of the prongs to the top of the rod, is maintained substantially the same. Therefore, the reinforcing bar is supported at practically the same height from the form whatever the rotated position of my bar support.

These prongs are preferably straight to form rigid supporting means for the longitudinal rod 1 and the reinforcing bars carried thereby. These prongs are preferably disposed in planes at right angles to said rod 1 as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to promote rigidity of my support.

The spacement of said prongs upon the rod 1 may be at a uniform distance as indicated in Fig. l, or may be at a variable distance as in Fig. 6. The space B between adjacent diverging prongs is adapted to receive and locate the reinforcing bars at any determined distance, and avoid shifting of the reinforcement upon the rod 1. The space C between these pairs of prongs forming the space B, is shown as a, greater uniform distance, and the reinforcing bars may be located at any point in the distance 0, either in the center, or near the adjacent prongs, to which they may be wired in the usual manner, if desired. The same bar support may thus be used for various distances of spacement of the reinforcing bars. The distance between the spaces B-B may represent the distance between the reinforcing bars; or the distance indicated by C may be used alone, or in combination with the spaces 13, according to the design of reinforcement required.

The longitudinal rod in my support serves also as a tension member disposed at right angles to the main reinforcing rods when the concrete is poured in the completed structure. In this use it serves as a distributing rod, and/or expansion rod.

Practical tests of mybar support as above described and constructed, demonstrate a rigidity, stiffness and strength under superposed weight 2. A bar support comprising a longitudinal rod,"

and diverging prongs transversely secured to said rod, and having both their outer ends approxi mately the same distance from said rod in four lines parallel to said rod forming a reversible support, substantially as described.

3. A bar support comprising a longitudinal rod, and substantially straight rigid prongs transversely secured near their middle in spaced relation on said rod and diverging alternately from each other forming a reversible bar spacing support, substantially as described.

4. A bar support comprising a longitudinal rod, and substantially straight rigid prongs trans- .versely secured near their middle in variably spaced relation on said rod and diverging alternately from each other at substantially right angles forming a reversible bar support, substantially as described.

GEORGE BIRKLAND. 

